Newsletter of the
International Jew’s Harp Society
CouncilMatters New Board Website Next Symposium
FeatureComment Variety – the ‘spice of life’ John Wright
RegionalNews
PictureGallery Leo Tadagwa Kumpl’s Amsterdam
AndFinally… Correspondence New website
NoticeBoard Amsterdam CD / DVD Membership
December 2006 Issue 4
Page 1 of 14 December 2006 Issue 4
BoardMatters: from the President Page 3
FeatureComment: Variety - the ‘spice of life’, by John Wright Page 4
RegionalNews Page 5
PictureGallery Page 10
AndFinally… Page 12
NoticeBoard Page 12
To contribute to the newsletter, send your emails to [email protected] or post to Michael Wright, Editor, IJHS Newsletter, 77 Beech Road, Wheatley, Oxon, OX33 1UD, UK Signed articles or news items represent the views of their authors only. Editor: Michael Wright, translations by Franz Kumpl & Gloria Custance; design & layout by Michael Wright ©IJHS2006 Cover photograph by Leo Tadagawa.
Michael Wright: The newsletter is now divided into six sections: Taught by brother John Editorial Wright in the late 1960’s, BoardMatters keeps you informed on decisions made along with younger brother Welcome to the first of the Newsletters I am putting on your behalf by the elected board. David, Michael supported John on 3 tracks on The Lark together for the foreseeable future. Before going any FeatureComment is a section featuring a thought in the Clear Air recorded in further, my personal thanks to Leo Tadagawa for provoking idea or view, which might be an initial 1974. Work and family setting these up in the first place – taking over is notion that could eventually develop into an article pressures meant giving up considerably easier once the initial work has been for nearly 20 years, but, for the Journal. To kick things off I’ve asked John encouraged by John, began done. Wright to expand on comments he made at the playing again in 1992, This newsletter is your opportunity to share your AGM at Amsterdam. Michael now divides his time between playing the ideas and what’s going on in your area with the rest RegionalNews will be as large or small as the Jew’s harp, researching its of the members. In this issue I am delighted to history in the UK & Ireland, material sent to me. I would like around 150-200 introduce amongst other things, a comments section words (not too onerous), longer if you have and giving talks and and photo gallery. John Wright’s piece on valorising workshops at festivals. See something really important to say. www.jewsharper.info minority communities has been most opportune, and (Available in January 2007) you will notice a few items that quite coincidentally The PictureGallery is an opportunity for artists support his views – Leo Tadagawa’s efforts to set amongst you to show your favourite image (photo, up a festival in Japan and José Luis Pignocchi’s drawing, etc.) – plus a few novelties! news from Argentina, for instance. AndFinally… is a catch-all area, including, letters to The intention at the moment is that the newsletter the editor, or anything else sent that is not covered will be published at the end of April and October in the above.
every year, and it differs from the Journal in that it If you have an impending product you want to tell will only provide snippets of information (i.e. news) us about, use the NoticeBoard. and ideas. I would prefer small amounts of information rather than huge essays – ‘little and often’, is the motto – so don’t feel obliged to write Depending upon what you send, this format may pages, and keep items short and to the point – the change or evolve. Michael Wright Journal is for bigger discussions. I need to receive Photograph by your contributions by the end of March and And finally… from me. Please ensure that you let Debbie Wright. September of each year; imagery is encouraged to me know if your address changes – postal and supplement text, though not essential, but please email. 10% of those emails on record bounced the send captions and the name of the photographer, if first time I used them, which means you could miss known – remember, however, the bus will always the ensuing issues and any other information you leave on time, even if there are no passengers on need to be aware of. board! My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this As a general principle, I will publish as sent to me edition. Keep in touch. If YOU do not send me and only suggest alterations if specifically asked to something, I cannot publish!
do so – this is your voice, not mine, after all. Michael Wright, Editor
Page 2 of 14
Firstly the General Secretary who is responsible for BoardMatters putting together and distributing the Newsletter, keeping track and updating of the membership list From the President: and writing the minutes in the board meetings; and secondly the treasurer who is responsible for and Dear friends, control over all financial issues, collecting and The 5th IJHF in Amsterdam from 28-30 July was a safeguard of the annual dues, and for payment of real success. The organisers from Het any expenses (Newsletter, etc), after consultation Muziekgebouw provided with a great countdown with General Secretary and President. Philippe and during the three days of the festival-congress Dallais was appointed as treasurer, because we the whole professional machinery was working for expect him to be as trustworthy as a Swiss bank. Franz Kumpl “us”. Leo Tadagawa was confirmed as General Secretary, Changes to the board In my opinion, the main points and lessons learned but when it became obvious that Leo, because of his 2006 Board are: Honorary president numerous duties and tasks will not be able to be an Fred CRANE (lifelong) • There exists a powerful young generation of active GenSec, Leo asked to be substituted. In USA Jew’s harp players, who know to an astonishing consultation with Leo and Fred Crane, Michael President degree the various national and ethnic styles and Franz KUMPL Wright from Great Britain was asked to take up this Austria are representing a kind of technically global yet job, and after some considerations he answered: General Secretary emotionally personal style of playing; this “I'm very honoured to have been asked to contribute (Leo TADAGAWA) applies to Silvain Vartan (France), Nguyen Duc to the Society on such an important part of its Japan Minh (Vietnam), Daniel Hentschel Michael WRIGHT promotion and organisation, and will do what I can Great Britain (Netherlands), Wolf Janscha (Austria), Kim to make the role successful.” Thank you, Michael! Treasurer Borisov and Yana Krivoshapkina (Yakutia), Philippe DALLAIS, Aron Szilagyi (Hungary), Luca Recupero (Italy), Next Congress Switzerland Li Wang (China), and others. Regarding the location for the 6th IJHF, we Journal Editor examined three options: Sicily, Hungary and Japan. Gordon FRAZIER • It seems that during each festival a certain ethnic (and Fred Crane) Jew’s harp has it’s “coming out” and fascinates The presentations of our colleagues revealed the USA the auditory with its unique possibilities. During following: Common members the 3rd festival, the star among the Jew’s harps • Luca Recupero from Sicily is very enthusiastic Ivan ALEXEYEV th Sakha-Yakutia/RF was the Yakutian “Khomus”, during the 4 the about organising an IJHF, but had to admit that Daniel HENTSCHE Norwegian “Munnharpe” was discovered, and in for a festival in about 3 years he could not Holland Amsterdam the Chinese “Kou Xiang” was the ensure the necessary funding. Gerd CONRADT people’s darling. • Aron Szilagyi from Hungary pointed out the Germany Kaliman UMETBAEVA • The concerts on the Summer Stage proved once active support of local administration in Kyrgyzstan more the importance of improvisation and Kecskemet and was able to provide a realistic Luca RECUPERO session playing. I tend to think that the Jew’s scenario for an IJHF in 2010, which is only 4 Italy harp is at its best when the song concepts are years from now. Albin PAULUS Austria rather open or when it spontaneously follows • Leo Tadagawa from Japan is sure that an IJHF Kim BORISOV emotions and ideas of the player, be it solo or in in principle was possible to be organised in Sakha-Yakutia/RF encounters with other instruments. Hokkaido, where our Mukkuri-playing Ainu Valentina SUZUKEI friends live. During the board meeting, Leo was Tuva/Russia • Recommendations for the next festival include: Aron SZILAGYI invite more Jew’s harp makers, provide with not very positive about implementing this long- Hungary cultural program for the participants, awaited Japanese IJHF within a reasonable time Leo TADAGAWA consecutive instead of parallel events, period. Japan announcements in the main languages. Therefore it was decided to have the 6th IJHF in Quang-Hai TRAN France Hungary. New board Svein WESTAD Norway I was convinced that we have to take a maximum of However, in October Leo was in Hokkaido where young people on board, if we want to have thriving the Ainu live and was convinced that there are very Thanks to members of the IJHS and guarantee festivals which find the difficult enthusiastic people wanting to organise an IJHF old Board who stepped down: synthesis between the best of the known oldies who within 2-3 years. After consultation with Fred Phons BAKX represent the traditions and of the young rebels with Crane, Michael Wright and Aron Szilagyi, it was Holland unexpected approaches. I want to thank our decided that Leo should be given until end of 2006 Anton BRUHIN grandsigneurs from the board for their to check the probability of a Japanese festival more Switzerland Anon EGELAND understanding and for making place for young thoroughly. Based on this information, we – the Norway colleagues. For two periods they were board whole board – will make a decision. The option is, Janet GOHRING members and supported the IJHS whenever needed. therefore, to have the 6th IJHF in 2008 in Japan and USA I would especially like to thank Leo Tadagawa who the 7th in 2010 in Hungary and the 8th in Yakutia. I Yedil KHUSEINOV Kazakhstan was General Secretary during the last period. At the think this is good news with which I want to end my Rimma MADVAROVA board meeting we decided to split this job into two: letter. Kyrgyzstan Boing Spiridon SHISHIGIN Franz Sakha-Yakutia/RF Robert ZAGRETDINOV [email protected] Bashkortostan/RF Page 3 of 14 John Wright of these tradition bearers were young men and the Pretty much self-taught, FeatureComment makers were very jealous of their knowledge - John was influenced by the especially the adjuster who hid in corners whilst he playing of Angus Lawrie of Oban, Scotland. He is a Variety – the ‘spice of life’ filed and lined up things. There are younger player of international At the General Meeting during the Amsterdam generations involved in Galicia, makers doing fine repute, a lay organologist Congress last June there was some particularly work - but will they have the wherewithal to continue and co-author of the seminal stimulating debate, especially when it came to that distinctive tradition of both making and playing ? work Les Guimbardes, for the Musée de l’Homme, taking the decision on the next venue. What can our Society do to help in valorising and published in 1978. John recorded The Lark in the One thing that had been trotting through my mind encouraging plurality of styles in making and playing? Clear Air in 1974, still since Rauland was the importance of the Jew’s harp - especially as one less positive outcome of cross- available, and has Congress in valorising minority communities, fertilisation may be a natural tendency, however slight contributed to CD’s especially aboriginal ones (aboriginal in its widest for the moment, towards uniformity of style. This was periodically since then. sense of people who have been living in a given to some extent countered at Amsterdam and at the country for the longest time). Notably at Rauland Norwegian festivals I have attended by diversity of were two groups of Ainus from Hokkaido plus activities with several things going on at the same people representing the various Taiwan Aboriginal time during the day and in this we are gradually groups. That's why I found myself pushing for getting closer to the folk festival formula (In the Taiwan or Hokkaido as the next venue but it was Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, this is the soon brought home to me that there would be only formula with no formal concerts as such). problems of funding - because we are dealing not so Personally I welcome this tendency because it much with inter-national relations (and that’s where happens to work very well. One of the most important the money is, if any) but inter-community ones. aspects of these festivals is the public “workshop” These communities most often form around a non- with a designated presenter responsible for making official language or dialect and have the unfortunate sure that things run smoothly. It is not the same as a habit of frequently straddling one or more national master-class or lecture (in outdoor festivals, there can
frontiers. be a good half-dozen stages on the go at the same time): The workshops can perhaps be perceived as John Wright Franz, ever practical, spoke of not confusing Photograph from the more superficial, but often they go much further in organisation of the international congress with more collection of the editor, bringing out the musicians’ art in a very flexible localised events, stressing the point that the informal public presentation of an invited group, an members an international body like ours by individual artist or a group of individuals brought definition of are far-flung making co-ordination together through some specific affinity. The formula difficult, which means that when we do manage to can be quite simple: for instance everyone likes to tell get together we have to make rapid pragmatic his life story or how he learnt to play, you can decisions on the next international congress taking concentrate on one type of instrument as represented the most feasible option. He did however think that in a number of cultures, the Jew’s harp as voice the society could support more local initiatives disguiser, as a rhythm instrument... The overall result (This is how I remember it: if I am misrepresenting is that individual performers are more occupied you in any way, Franz, please say so). throughout the festival and encouraged to do things But of course, this begs the question - how? outside of the framework of the formal concerts - the important thing is that each has his or her say. I have Especially as the sands of time are running out taken part in many of these workshops both as because in many places, distinctive traditions of performer and presenter and I can say that they are making and playing Jew’s harps are in a fragile often joyful occasions and everybody comes away state. This is particularly true as regards Jew’s harp knowing they have done something worthwhile. making traditions. Let me give a concrete example - Galicia: I was present at a Jew’s harp (trompa or Of course in the United States there were little or no birimbao) festival organised at Lugo a few years language problems for the audience (except for my ago by Luciano Perez (who was present at Rauland Leicester accent), and for our international as an observer). Several local makers were present organisation that may sometimes complicate things - at Lugo including two men, both in their Eighties. but where there’s a will there’s a way. They were the real tradition-bearers: one was a John Wright blacksmith who forged the instrument and put it together, only advancing the work to a crucial point, where his colleague, the “adjuster” took over to fine-tune the instrument. The latter, as might be
expected, was also a good player and there was a (Far right) virtuoso player also present at the festival, a little Ainus player younger than the other two. It was obvious that the Photograph by very distinctive configuration of the local trompa Leo Tadagawa. coincided with a very special way of playing. None
Page 4 of 14 Austria – Oe Maultrommelverein RegionalNews The Jew’s harp centre of Austria,
This section is totally reliant on what you send me. A project was started in Molln in August this year to If your country or region is not included, write restore an old house of a very famous Jew’s harp manufacturing family – the “Hois Family”. An something! outstanding fact for the Austrian history of Jew’s Items will be shown in alphabetical order according harp makers in Molln, is that the last decades of to country. production were led by the widow of the last maker Georg Hois, who died in the 1930’s. Until the Argentina 1970’s, when production ended, Maria Hois was The First Trump assembling the Jew’s harps with help of her One of the best trump collections in the world is in daughters. the “Musée de l´Homme” in Paris. There we can find trumps from many countries, but up to last year there was not a single one in the museum from
Argentina. So on April 28 2005 we presented one to Rosalía Martinez, Directrice Laboratoire (Far right) d’ethnomusicologie, UMR 7173, Centre National de The "Hoisn-Haus" in la Recherche Scientifique, for their Museum. Molln/Austria. 390 year old house of a Jews harp maker This trump was made by “Pilancho” Gonzalez, of family. Photograph courtesy of the “Pilaga” people, who lives in the little town of Friends of the Hoisn-Haus. “Las Lomitas”, Formosa province, Argentine. Association. Some months after, during an annual meeting of
Indigenous Cultures at the province, we gave Gonzalez a certificate from France. It was a very The house, first mentioned in 1615, is in quite good moving moment that finished with “Pilancho” condition. History says that Jew’s harps were manufactured there up from the late 18th century. playing one of his instruments and showing the th paper that had been given. Since the early 20 century nothing has changed inside the building, so you can get a good This is particularly important for the indigenous impression how a Molln Jew’s harp maker family culture, who were discriminated against for a long, lived a hundred years ago. long time in a country that is the most European A new association – the “Friends of the Hoisn- of Latin America José Luis Pignocchi Haus” - was started up to restore the building, as for several years the building was uninhabited and
ready to fall down, but with help of EU-funding, the “Pilancho” Gonzalez is aim is to open it for the public. The Austrian Jews presented with certificate. Photograph by courtesy of Harp Association, also located in Molln, is José Luis Pignocchi. cooperation partner in this project. An internet site to give more project information is prepared.
Wolf Janscha, who gave a lecture and concert at the Amsterdam Festival this year, moved from Vienna to Molln to go deeper into the culture of the Jew’s
harp. He especially wants to learn how to make Jew’s harp to a very high quality standard. He therefore started to serve an apprenticeship with the (Right) famous blacksmith Schmidberger in Molln. This “Pilancho” Gonzalez playing one of his instruments.. will truly bring a new dynamic and impact into the Photograph by courtesy of Jew’s harp scenery in Molln, as Wolf is also an José Luis Pignocchi. outstanding player. Manfred Russmann
Far right) Manfred Russmann and others in full flow at Amsterdam 2006 Photograph by Leo Tadagawa
Page 5 of 14
France
Tran Quang Hai sends some links concerning Jew's (25'), was presented in the Kulturbrauerei on harp. October 19, 2006, in the former machine hall of the old brewery. This videofilm is a declaration of love to the Jew’s harp, its lovers and virtuosi all over
the world. The screening was a big hit with the young visitors and nearly everyone wanted to test a Jew’s harp and play it immediately. Various types went from mouth to mouth, although before each
changeover they were “cleaned” in a glass of Vodka!
In the interlude our guest, Olaf Garbow, played "Prussian Blue". Afterwards the film producers introduced themselves - and were ecstatically
celebrated by the audience. In fact, the entire film team was struck down in Amsterdam by the Jew’s harp virus! To conclude the evening, all the Jew’s (Right) harp players present came up on the stage and Tran Quang Hai in concert.. Photograph by courtesy of improvised together under the guidance of Chris Tran Quang Hai. Dehler.
Tran Quang Hai plays the Jew's harp: The "Friends of the Jew’s Harp” circle is not active http://youtube.com/watch?v=3sae-BV1jZU at present. This is connected to the fact that our How to make a Hmong Jew's harp: member, Dr. Horst Wittenbecher, died in the early summer and his studio was our meeting http://youtube.com/watch?v=GQ1P8c_9YKk&mod e=related&search place. At his funeral, by his grave, we played all Tran Quang Hai plays the Jew's Harp in together for the last time. The other funeral guests Washington DC on 27 August 2006: were impressed, as our Jew’s harp playing developed a charm that helped to make the parting http://youtube.com/watch?v=okdYHbzTyjk There are many videos of Jew's harp on: from Horst easier.
http://youtube.com At this point, I would like to bring up a suggestion This is the Jew's harp FORUM: again that I made in Amsterdam. I am of the opinion http://37781.rapidforum.com/recenttopics, where that the members’ “board" of the IJHS you can find many articles on the Jew's Harp. should plan to meet next year to consider the current
For photos and other general information go to: state of affairs, to exchange ideas, and look to the http://tranquanghai.info future. Not only could they meet, they could also Tran Quang Hai come together to make music and mutually inspire each other. To me, this seems the right thing to do
Germany – Der Freundeskreis Maultrommel to keep the IJHS a living organization. Paris would We have great memories of the "International Jew's be an appropriate place to meet - or Sicily. Harp Festival 2006" in Amsterdam, and for those Gerd Conrad marvellous days in the Muziekgebouw, between (Translation by Gloria Custance) the sky and the water, with exciting concerts and Hungary meetings, we would cordially like to thank the The Second Hungarian Jew's Harp Festival went supervisors and organizers. pretty well on 5th August 2006. The one evening
Back in Berlin again, with all our impressions and program was divided into a traditional and a contemporary part. Before the concerts Aron ideas, numerous visiting cards, appointments, new friends and new CDs, we are looking at Szilagyi gave a Jew’s harp workshop for beginners. everything that needs to be to arranged for our More then 60 people participated which wasn't easy
follow-up festival, for time is moving fast. We are to handle. In the afternoon Catherine le Maignan's documentary made at the First Hungarian Jew's planning a "Day of the Jew's Harp" in Berlin. Harp Fest, Glimpse on the Jew's harp was shown. Soeren Birke will organize an annual international Jew's harp concert in the Kulturbrauerei – a very The concerts started with the show of the special and unique place for culture, experimental musician Albert Leskowsky followed communication, dancing, eating and drinking. I by a real world music performance: Leo Tadagawa think this concert event will be the heart of the "Day (on Jew’s harp, of course) and Takaku Keijiro of the Jew's Harp" in Berlin. (Hungarian hurdy-gurdy) played traditional
Many festival participants will remember the young Hungarian songs. After Leo Alexander Horsch film crew that was seen in action everywhere during demonstrated traditional Hungarian and inner Asian the festival. The result, the videofilm "Mundton" instruments, Anton Bruhin accompanied some Cont… Page 6 of 14 songs. The last show of the traditional part was a Italy surprise performance: Sayla's khöömei ensemble Marranzano: News from Sicily
from Inner Mongolia, China. These three The positive effects of the first Marranzano World Mongolian women sang incredible khöömei and Festival, held in Catania in Oct 2005, can still be played traditional music on Jew's harp, too. appreciated after one year, although the second
edition of the Festival (originally planned for
October 2006) had to be postponed until April 2007.
There are clear symptoms of a positive trend towards the re-discovery and appreciation of this instrument, deeply rooted in the Sicilian folk music culture. Besides the rise in the amount of bands (not
only folk, but also rock and even dance/electronic) that feature the marranzanu, one very good news is the increased number of instrument makers: the son of the late Mr. Tremoglie in the town of Leonforte (Right) Taken at the Second has picked up the workshop of his father, well Hungarian Jew's Harp known both as maker and player, and another good Festival, Kecskemét, maker has been reported in the town of Marineo. Hungary, 05th August 2006, Photograph by Another very good news item on this same aspect is Tamas "Joel" Varga. to announce a marranzano-making workshop by the well-recognized and very esteemed Mr. Giuseppe Barnabas Szilagyi's Hagakure project was the first show after the break. It was an audio-visual Alaimo of Resuttano (see picture), planned for late journey through time and space: Jew's harp, tabla April 2007 in connection to the 2nd Marranzano female vocal and electronics. After Barnabas World Festival. For more info write to: [email protected] or [email protected] Yoram Sival, the Israeli didgeridoo player gave a very nice concert. Many different Jew's harps, didj Luca Recupero sounds and overtone singing were looped and
dubbed live. The audience enjoyed it very much.
Jacob M. Nasim's Psychedelic Jew's Harp project was first ever played unplugged because of unlucky twists of fate: Jacob's rig wasn't allowed onto the plane because of overweight, then in the
hotel room he spent the whole night programming the substitute effect processor provided by the fest organizers and when it came to the moment to start the gig, there was not a single sound coming out of
the electronics. So, Jacob played unplugged and it was very good, just a bit (quite a bit) different then the original Psychedelic Jew's Harp. The next performer was the great Hungarian avant-garde
Jew's harp player, Miklos Paizs. He broke every (Far right) Jew's harp he played during his show. Just as part Mr. Giuseppe Alaimo and of his poetry... his workshop in Resuttano (Caltanissetta, Sicily.) The last player was, of course, Anton Bruhin. He Photograph by played his ET and hydro-tubular system, too. Luca Recupero. The Festival was professionally recorded on video. The edited DVD will come out December this year. It will contain many extras, such as interviews, biographies, gallery and the trailer of a Jew's Harp tutorial DVD coming out in February next year.
The cultural referent of the City of Kecskemet is very positive about the IJHF in 2010 in Kecskemet. The organizer institutes (Kecskemet Youth Centre and Eurokult Association) expressed their will to organize the event. At the moment Marranzanu by Mr. Alaimo .Photograph by they are mapping the possible sites. Luca Recupero. Aron Szilagyi
Page 7 of 14 Japan Norway Activities of Nihon Koukin Kyoukai [Japan Jew's Norsk Munnharpeforum
Harp Association] We had our annual festival in Setesdal 22-24. Publishing September. Approx. 40 participants, from Norway, Last year (2005) December, we published a book plus some coming from Estonia and Finland. The “Koukin no Hibiku Sekai (A World with the weekend included concerts, workshops and a trip to
Resonant Jew’s Harp)” with an accompanying CD Folke Nesland’s workshop. Further, Sylvain Trias [NKK005] by Leo Tadagawa. The English from Paris, has moved with his family to Stavanger. translation is under preparation. A tutorial DVD His wife has got a job there, and Sylvain wants to “Learn to Play the Sakha Khomus with Ivan study the Norwegian style of Jew’s harp playing.
Alexeyev & Spiridon Shishigin” (mainly in So, he was at the festival, too. Russian, with Japanese titles) which was published Svein Westad in 1996 on a video tape (VHS) will be released (Far right) very soon. Photograph by courtesy of Svein Westad. Concerts and Events In 2006 we have organized several concerts. • January: Robert Zagretdinov (Bashkortostan) • June: Bolot Bairyshev (Altai). • September: Ivan Alexeyev (Sakha). • October: Yedil Khusseinov (Kazakhstan). Monthly Meeting We are having monthly meeting with a live show by special guest musicians every second Sundays. International Festival and Congress We are planning to have an International Jew’s Harp Event (Hopefully the 6th International Jew’s Photograph by courtesy of Harp Festival & Congress) in 2008 summer. Svein Westad. Internet Site We are running an Internet site in Japanese: http://www.koukin.jp/ Leo Tadagawa.
The Netherlands Sakha Republic We invite you to the extraordinary land of Olonkho, I am in contact with two other Dutch Jew’s harp players and have decided to do a Jew’s harp where the Khomus of the people of Sakha will matinee in a nice theater in the center of Utrecht, escort you. NL. The venue is called Theater Kikker (frog The people of Sakha have preserved numerous theatre, a very suitable name for a Jew’s harp cultural and spiritual traditions, which have their event) and maybe this could mean a start of roots in ancient times. As people and ethnos, we something bigger. have our spirituality, our language, and we did not The performance will include: Míku Zee (J-harp, lose our national culture and traditions. didgeridoo), Tony Antenna's Monorail (a one man Playing the khomus is part of our cultural traditions. band with J-harp, Anthony Glass from the band The music of khomus transports spiritual energy, The Electric Fans) and Plunk (J-harp and human which positively affects people, causing happy beatbox, Ramon Kool & Danibal) emotions and feelings. Playing the khomus helps http://www.theaterkikker.nl/muziek.php?id=665&a children to reveal, develop and realize their creative genda=algemeen potential. I hope to establish contact with more players, but it I work as teacher in the creative association "Etigen is still a little hard. (We all sympathise. Ed.). Khomus" ("Etigen Khomus" means "entrancing Something of more international interest: I just khomus") of the children's center of aesthetic discovered youtube and there is a humble start of a education "Aiylgy" ("Aiylgy" means "middle group sharing Jew’s harp movies: world") of Yakutsk city. I am working with http://www.youtube.com/group/jawharp. There is a numerous bright and gifted children, playing the growing number of people adding there films and it khomus and being interested in the national culture would be nice to find many more Jew’s harp films of the people of Sakha. I try to attract the children to on it and meeting other enthusiasts. (This is really playing the khomus and to our national traditions interesting, and I would like an article for the next with the aim of developing and strengthening newsletter on who, what, when, etc… Ed.) Logo by courtesy of Agniya spirituality, self-realization and creativity. Spiridonovna Zhirkova Danibal
Page 8 of 14 I am convinced of this, when I see the happy faces date depending upon funding and performer of the children, when they are satisfied with the availability. The intention is that this will include results of performances. In the past year we talks on the importance of the instrument in the UK, achieved quite a lot: we became laureate of the first an illustrated talk on the Jew’s harp in South Africa, degree in the international festival "Il Khomus" a discussion on archaeological finds, a private view (Tekhtyr, Sakha), and laureate of children's of the collections in the Pitt Rivers Museum and the folklore- musical festival "Crystal Lira" in France.
Spiridon Shishigin For the active participation in the cultural life of our Photograph by courtesy of city we received fifteen places in the summer Agniya Spiridonovna children's creative camp in Beidaheie, China. Zhirkova
(Right) Photograph by courtesy of Agniya Spiridonovna Zhirkova
(Far right) Michael & Lucy Wright at Peta Webb’s birthday concert, Whitby Folk Week, 2006 Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, and Photograph by kind opportunities to hear players from the UK and permission of abroad in concert. Grant applications are in the efnMagazine. pipeline, and depending upon the result, we are
hoping to invite a number of our colleagues from We participated in the All-Russian festival of jazz various groups to attend. For more information, music "Tong Jazz" ("Jazz in the Permafrost"), 20-22 email [email protected] October of 2006 in Yakutsk city, where we also
took part in the event for the new Guiness-record on Obituary – John Campbell 27-3-1933 – 2-10-2006
the "largest quantity of khomus-players on a stage", In October I heard of the death of a very
which was inspired by the Guiness-record holder entertaining storyteller and Jew’s harp player from Igor Zakharov who played on the drums Ireland – John Campbell. Although unknown to continuously for 24 hours. many of you, John was a renowned performer throughout the UK and Ireland. His close friend and At last I would like to note that in each country we the other part of a performing duo, the Irish singer, visit, we share with the people of this country our Len Graham, said of John, “John Campbell’s, soul and heart. Children are very interested in the magnificent storytelling skills, with his fantastic culture of other people and it was a great pleasure imagination and his delightfully humorous for us to share with you our culture and part of the observations, brought joy to those who witnessed happiness which is in the heart of children. his spellbinding performances.” They recorded two Agniya Spiridonovna Zhirkova, khomus- highly acclaimed CD’s – Ebb & Flow and Two for improvisator, honored pedagogue of the Russian the Road. John plays Jew’s harp on tracks Love will
Federation, teacher at "Etigen of Khomus", you marry me, Maggie Picken and Fishing for Eels Sakha-Yakutia, Russian Federation on Ebb & Flow and tracks The Frost is Over and (Translation by Franz Kumpl) The Shaskeen Reel on Two for the Road. John was
very supportive of my efforts to promote the Jew’s South Africa Ethnomusicologist, Angela Impey, has been harp in the UK and will be sadly missed. We are working with and studying Kwa Zulu Natal people looking to have a tribute concert at the festival in for the some years, recording their playing of both Oxford.
the Jew’s harp and their indigenous instrument, the Michael Wright
mouth bow. A collaborative talk at the School of USA
African Studies will be given at the School in The 14th North American Jew’s Harp Festival was
February 2007 with Michael Wright – who is held at the Bay City Arts Center in Bay City,
looking at the trade links that led to the use of the Oregon, on the Oregon coast just north of
instrument in the area. Tillamook, on the weekend 4-6 August 2006. The
Michael Wright programme included a market; concerts; a
Musician’s Meeting; How-to-play and other UK & Ireland workshops; ‘Band Scramble’; Twang Time Circle, IoNAJHA where there was the opportunity to share techniques, The Islands of the North Atlantic Jew’s Harp and a final Grand Jam. After the Annual Jew’s Harp Association was formed at Whitby Folk Week, in Guild Meeting that was held on the Sunday, a Sea August 2006. Its primary aim is to promote the Jew’s harp in the UK and Ireland, and to encourage Cave Outing was organised – proving that festivals John Campbell in concert are not all talk and twang! Photograph by research and its dissemination. We also intend to Futoshi Sakauchi run our first Jew’s harp festival in Oxford, in 2007 – (Michael Wright on behalf of the JHG) Page 9 of 14 Leo Tadagawa Being Japanese, Leo couldn't PictureGallery understand why he was interested in the Jew's harp so much, particularly as the Leo Tadagawa tradition seemed to have We’ve all had the pleasure of seeing Leo’s disappeared in Japan. After photographic work over the years, so I asked him to encountering two iron select a few of his favourites for publication. instruments from the 10th century, excavated from neighbouring town, however, he started to think that there were possibilities. Moreover, he found a country - Sakha (Yakutia) - where the Jew's harp player is considered as a normally respected person. Now Leo is established as one of the regions – and world’s – great players, invited to perform in concert and on recordings, and has found other players in Hokkaido whom he enthusiastically promotes.
(Right) Players from Top: Ulch. Middle: Yakutia Botton: Ainus. All photograph by Leo Tadagawa
Page 10 of 14 Kumpl’s Amsterdam Scrapbook
(all names left to right) Franz persuaded many and various people to take 1. Albina Dekhtereva, snapshots at Amsterdam – so thanks to those who 2 Spiridon Shishigin, Fred did. Crane, Ivan Alexeev, Kim Borisov, Franz 1 Kumpl, Yana Krivoshapkina, Zhirkova. 2. Ivan Alexeev, Spiridon Shishigin, Anton Bruhin, Franz Kumpl, Robert Zagredtinov. 3. The Wright-family and Nguyen Duc Minh. 4. Indian master playing exprompt. 5. Franz and Jan Wolf, who is the initiator of the Amsterdam IJHF.. 3 6. Anton Bruhin (CH), Spiridon Shishigin (Sakha), Phons Bakx (NL) – three grand masters of the Jew’s harp! 7. Luca Recupero and his 4 band in action. 8. Jamming of harps and didgeridoos, looking like the playing of two “good”(orderly) boys with two “bad”(wild) boys. 9. Lucy & John Wright. 10. Manfred Russmann and 5 band. 11. Gordon Frazier, Fred Crane, Anton Bruhin, Koichi Makigami, Silvain Trias, Franz Kumpl. 12. Leo Tadagawa, Franz Kumpl, Fred Crane, Aron Szilagy, Jarko Aikens (the program manager at Het Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam, taken in 8 Kecskemet in 25 Sep 7 2005).
All photographs courtesy of Franz Kumpl
10 9
12 11 Page 11 of 14
Looking Back Recently I found the photograph below of the 1974 AndFinally… recording of the ‘Lark in the Clear Air’, and it occurred to me that there must be photos of a Comment youthful Crane, Bruhin, Shishigin, Alexeyev or, Any responses or comments you want to send indeed, any of you, so dig into your old photo regarding anything in the Newsletter will be printed albums and lets show the younger members of our here. Society that we were like them once!
New Website It was agreed at the AGM that we should have a new IJHS website, and I hope to update you on developments in the next issue
MW
NoticeBoard
Those of you that were at the Festival in Amsterdam will remember the film group, blende39, interviewing and filming the participants throughout the weekend. Eva-Luise Volkmann updates us on its availability.
Mundton DVD
A ramble through the world of the Jew's-Harp
The Jew's-Harp chooses his player, it seduces.
It was at the 5th International Jew's-Harp Festival in
(Right) Amsterdam, where virtuosos and enthusiasts from (left to right) Paddy Moran, all over the world met to celebrate its unique sound, Paddy Neylan, John Wright, that we discovered the Jew's-Harp. We were well Noel Pepper & John Doonan. prepared and knew the stories and legends, but what Photograph by Michael Wright. we were not ready for the effect the instrument was to have on us.
Our film shows how the Jew's-Harp seduced us. It looks at a small instrument that has fascinated musicians and audiences for thousands of years. The
Caption Competition players told us about their thoughts and experiences A prize (if we had one) would go to the best entry with the Jew's-Harp and the DVD includes portraits for a caption to this photograph by Leo Tadagawa, of some of the most famous Jew's-Harp players, but don’t let the lack of a gift stop you! such as Anton Bruhin, Spiridon Shishigin and Tran
Quang Hai. The best three will be posted in the next issue.
(Right) Photograph by Leo Tadagawa
(Far right) Film crew at work. Photograph by courtesy of blende39 A call for help from the editor!
Can I have any PR photos to keep on file for It is a documentary for those who are caught by the future publications, please? Send them to the Jew's-Harp and those who want to be found, and address (postal or email) on pages 2 and 13, you can buy the DVD by sending an email to with a caption. Thanks. [email protected]. Editor Eva-Luise Volkmann
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Amsterdam CD IJHS Membership The Fifth International Jew's Harp Festival 2006 Membership dues are payable in January. Please - LIVE! send your cheques or payment details to: Philippe …will come out in December and in January Dallais, Grand Rue 55, 2035 Corcelles,
people will be able to order it via the website: Switzerland, or [email protected] . www.muziekgebouw.nl
Please notify the General Secretary immediately It is a double CD, including: of changes or corrections to your address as
"Jew's harpist attached to a CD1 currently listed at: Michael Wright, IJHS, c/o wooden block". 77 Beech Road, Wheatley, Oxon OX33 1UD, or Drawing by Danibal. Wolf Janscha (Austria) Phons Bakx, Izzy van Elk, Janus Filius (Netherlands) [email protected] Madosini (South Africa) John, Michael & Lucy Wright (Great Britain) Leo Tadagawa (Japan) and Arnold Marinissen Deadlines! (Netherlands) Bolot Bairyshev (Altai, RF) Newsletter 5 Robert Zagretdinov en Ildar Nizamov Copy, images – including titles and credits – by (Bashkortostan, RF) Friday, 30th March 2007. I’ll be sending a Albina Degtareva & Yana Krivoshapkina reminder out about a month before, though don’t (Yakutia, RF) wait until then, but send me things as and when Albin Paulus (Austria) and Vaughan Schlepp you think of it! (Netherlands) Publication will be at the end of April 2007. CD2 Li Wang (China) If reading this newsletter has inspired you to Sylvain Trias & Jonathan Pontier (France) write something, please send an email to Sekaa Genggong Lestari (Bali, Indonesia) [email protected] Tran Quang Hai (Vietnam / France) or write me a letter to: Nguyen Duc Minh (Vietnam) Michael Wright, Steev Kindwald (USA / India) The editor Morsing Tarang Jew’s Harp Quartet (Southern India) IJHH Newsletter Mollner Maultrommler (Austria) 77 Beech Road Das Ohr (Switserland / Austria / Germany) Navrang (Hungary) Wheatley Oxon OX33 1UD Oorbeek (Netherlands) and Koichi Makigami (Japan) Plunk (Netherlands)
Igor Burko from Tschelabinsk. During the first RegionalNews – STOP PRESS days, there were performances by the Orchestra of A Guinness World Record! Sakha Circus “Time Band”; the violin ensemble“ I received this from Spiridon Shiahigin and Yakutia virtuoso” of the High music school; the couldn’t let it pass – congratulations to all! choir “Revival” and solo- singer of the Opera and Ballet theatre, that are Elvira Sanievskaya,
The Russian Jazz music “Tong- Jazz” took place Valerie Casatkin; the brass-band orchestra, ensemble of Yakutian music college and others. on 20–22 October 2006, in the Sakha Republic, (Below) Yakutia. Music groups from Yakutsk, Aldan, The World Record event! On the last day, however, more than 400 Jew’s Photograph by courtesey of Mirny took part and well known Jazz music harp players and ensembles from different Spiridon Shishigin groups from Russia – such as, Igor Bril from schools and colleges took part in the record Moscow, Igor Zakharov from Yekaterinburg and breaking attempt. They all played on the Yakutian I Bk national instrument – the khomus (vargan/Jew’s harp) under the guidance of Igor Zakharov, a world renowned winner of International Jazz festivals. The ethno-group, Yakutia “Ajarchaan” began to play the first melody, followed by all the other Jew’s harp players. Igor Zakharov conducted, shook his head in disbelief, jumped for joy and was in ecstasy with the music. The performance lasted 5 minutes, and the audience received this improvisation with great warmth, standing and loudly applauding at the end. The performance itself was organised by the Moscow committee of Guinness record’s book, a similar performance having been carried out in the summer during the National Celebration Ysyach. Spiridon Shishigin Page 13 of 14
Leo Tadagawa, John Wright, Svein Westad and Tran Quang Hai in concert on the Amsterdam Festival Summer Stage, 2006. Photograph by Lucy Wright
International Jew’s Harp Society Application for membership
New member Renewal
Name and address
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E-mail address------
The annual dues are US$20.00, and may be paid by International Postal Money order payable to International Jew’s Harp Society. The amount may also be paid in cash, with a risk of loss in the mail.
I enclose payment in the amount of US$______to cover dues for the year(s) 200______
I am unable to send the dues, because of technical difficulties with exchange, or other good reason.
I enclose an additional amount of US$______as a subsidy for members not able to pay.
The Treasurer’s postal address is: Philippe Dallais, Grand Rue 55, 2035 Corcelles, Switzerland: Fax: +41-(0)32-730-2266. E-mail: [email protected]
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